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1860s Sauvie Island
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“A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by future descendants”
Lord Macaulay
(a British Historian and Politician 1800-1859)
James Copeland
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James William Copeland was born on June 16,1837 in Decatur, Illinois. He was the son of James Copeland and his second wife, Mary Knox.
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James came to Oregon with Joseph and Isaac Copeland, two older brothers from his father’s first marriage to Elizabeth Thomas.
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His oldest brother, Joseph married Eliza Bennett and settled in Columbia County. Joseph and Eliza were the parents of four children; Isaac, Mary, Dora and Josie.
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Not much is known about Isaac. He was listed on the 1860 Vancouver, Washington census as single and a blacksmith.
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James married Sarah Thomas, daughter of Henry Thomas of Sauvie Island. They moved to Woodland, Washington and raised a family of 7 children; Della, Charles, William, Ludocia, Frank, Fred, Winifred and Hattie. They were prominent citizens and charter members of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodland.
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As far as I know at this time none of the children of James and Sarah married.
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James was part owner of the “Lucea Mason” and the “Dewdrop” along with Captain Isaac Thomas, Captain John Henry Bonser and other members of the Farmers Transportation group, which was originally the Lewis & Lake River Transportation Company of Pekin.